WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - February is Black History Month, but Wichita Falls ISD school board member Diann Scroggins believes Black history should be taught year-round.

“Our history goes on 12 months a year, 24 hours a day,” Scroggins said. “It’s something that is a part of individuals. As we teach our children how to relate in the world, they need to be able to relate to people they may not live around.”

Educators use February to highlight Black culture and celebrate its impact on the community. Scroggins believes students are open-minded and ready to learn about other cultures.

“I think that students are very open because I believe most of our students have friends from all backgrounds, so it’s interesting thing for them to learn about each other,” she said.

Scroggins believes Black History Month is important because Black history is American history. She also warns that if history is not taught, it may be repeated.

She is also a strong advocate for teaching about all cultures.

“I think it’s a good thing for children to know different cultures, not just African American culture,” Scroggins said. “But, say, Cinco de Mayo—to know a little more about Hispanic culture, to know even about the Jewish culture and the Holocaust.”

For Scroggins, equal representation in education is a crucial step toward equality.

“I would love to believe that before I leave here, we would get to a situation where we wouldn’t have to necessarily highlight, because we would all be operating in a uniform and harmonious way,” she said.